nuclear-news

Nuclear waste storage and the “Waste Confidence Rule”

According to the NRC “waste confidence” is a generic finding that spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored for decades beyond the licensed operating life of a reactor without significant environmental effects.

The NRC said the rule enables the agency to license reactors or renew their licenses without examining the effects of extended waste storage for each individual site

NRC Will Study Environmental Impact of Temporary On-Site Storage of Nuclear Waste, Montville Patch 9 Sept 12,  Following a lawsuit brought by Attorney’s General of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it will assess the environmental impact of storing spent nuclear fuel at reactor sites for longer periods of time. For towns near Dominion’s Millstone Nuclear Power Plant, including Montville, just 8 miles away as the corw flies, federal heel-dragging on the issue of what to do with the nation’s nuclear waste is increasingly becoming an issue . 

With no alternative in sight, Millstone currently has no option but to expand its onsite nuclear waste storage capacity.  This raises concerns for many people who live in the vicinity and yesterday, Attorney General George Jepsen decided to weigh in on that particular issue.

Jepsen said he supports a federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission order to its staff to develop an environmental impact statement (EIS) and a revised waste confidence rule on the temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel.

“This action affirms the position Connecticut and other states have taken for years – that the environmental impact needs to be assessed before any decision is made to allow longer storage of spent nuclear fuel at reactor sites,” Attorney General Jepsen said. “We look forward to working with the NRC in this process.”……

The NRC directed its staff Thursday to develop — within the next two years — an environmental impact statement, as well as a revised waste confidence decision and rule on the temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel.

According to the NRC “waste confidence” is a generic finding that spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored for decades beyond the licensed operating life of a reactor without significant environmental effects. Prior to the December 2010 revision, fuel could be stored on site for up to 30 years after a reactor closed.

The NRC said the rule enables the agency to license reactors or renew their licenses without examining the effects of extended waste storage for each individual site.

Connecticut has two operating nuclear plants, Millstone 2 and Millstone 3 in Waterford and two decommissioned nuclear plants, Millstone 1 in Waterford and Connecticut Yankee in Haddam. The spent fuel from those plants remains on site awaiting a permanent federal storage facility….. http://montville-ct.patch.com/articles/nrc-will-study-environmental-impact-of-temporary-on-site-storage-of-nuclear-waste-3f5d47a5

September 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes